Traits of the ideal presidential candidate in 2008

[BurtWorm]

* Communicates clearly that he or she understands what a disaster the Bush administration has been for all areas of policy, domestic and foreign, and that the highest priority for any succeeding administration is undoing all of the damage and laying the groundwork for a resumption of rational governance.

* Communicates clearly that he or she understands the Iraq war is a major disaster and that to address the damage it has done to American interests in the world, it is necessary to end America's part in the war as soon as possible.

* Shows clear intent to shift American efforts in Iraq away from military action, unless absolutely necessary, toward diplomacy.

* Shows clear intent to elevate diplomacy in all regions of the world and to stop communicating that the US views developing nations as potential property.

* Shows clear intent to lead Congress and industry toward reducing the US's ecological footprint and solving the climate crisis with other nations.

* Shows clear intent to do whatever is necessary to make health care affordable and available to all Americans.



Please add more of these traits. If you know of a candidate who demonstrates all of the above, please share that as well. And if you disagree with any of these traits, please explain why and offer alternatives.

[blondeatlast]

1. States publicly that he/she doesn't care if re-elected.

fixiing the disaster of the past eight years is going to require doing some daring--and likely unpopular--things, like stacking SCOTUS and pulling our troops out of Iraq ASAP.

The media won't like it, but it's the nation or re-election, as I see it.

[BurtWorm]

3. It really would be encouraging to see a candidate put the job above the career.

It's a big job, and the future of the country and the world may depend on it.

[peace13]

2. Honesty.

Upholds the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
Actively works to expose PNAC and the immoral acts they have perpetrated upon this planet
Upholds the separation of church and State

[Selatius]

6. Tall order given the level of corruption and influence peddling in our gov't, but I support it too.

They didn't take down the ring leaders behind BCCI when Clinton took office, and some of those same guys showed up inside PNAC a decade later.

[blm]

4. Respecting the citizens' right to an honest and OPEN GOVERNMENT that holds

responsible those powerful elite who have long avoided accountability.

I do not want a smiley face used to mask the fascism.

[cosmik debris]

5. Is not a nose-picking booger eater

Of course I use that as an extreme example to illustrate that we must consider the negatives of a candidate as well as the positives.

No matter how wonderful a candidate's platform may be; no matter how qualified the candidate; a nose-picking booger eater should not be our party's standard bearer.

So factor in all the negatives before you decide on a candidate.

[BurtWorm]

7. YEEEEAAAAAAAARRRGGHH!!

:patriot:

[renie408]

8. This is such a sad list.

That these things aren't AUTOMATIC or that all Americans don't consider these things to be important.